A plaque that accompanied the photograph and has since been discarded read: John R. Brodie, 1879-1962. Athlete, industrialist, and philanthropist. Resided in Brandon 1902-1920. Founded Great West Coal Company 1912. Contributed $250,000 to Brandon College, 1961, and left the college ¼ interest in his estate. Negative is located with the photograph.
View is northwest, taken from the John R. Brodie Science Centre. Photograph shows: Citizens' Science Building in the foreground, the Brandon College Building and Clark Hall in the background, as well as the driveway in front of the buildings.
Donkersloot began working at Brandon University in 1970/1971 as the Clerk of Works. From 1973 until his retirement, he was the Director of Physical Plant.
The 1960s campus expansion necessitated a large, updated heat source so a central steam plant fueled by coal was built north of the campus adjacent to the CPR rail lines on Pacific Avenue. A 25-year agreement was made between the University and John R. Brodie of the Great West Coal Company, which guaranteed BU lower coal prices tendered by the Canadian National and Canadian Pacific Railways on an annual basis. Brandon College Engineer John Kasiurak officially opened the Heating Plant on 24 January 1962. An extension and/or upgrade of the steam plant appears to have occurred in 1970.
Until the 1990s, heat was piped underground to the campus from the Pacific Avenue Heating Plant but inspection standards were outpacing the maintenance and repairs required to keep the plant operating smoothly. Consequently, a new steam plant was built immediately adjacent to the University to the west of Darrach Hall on 20th Street. This building was essential to handling additional loads from the proposed library expansion. The original steam plant was subsequently sold.
Custodial History
Photograph was taken by Tom Donkersloot during construction and stored in albums in the Physical Plant H-Hut until they were transfered to the McKee Archives by Doug Duncalf in May 2008.
Scope and Content
Photograph shows the roof of Brandon University's coal steam plant at 20th Street and Pacific Avenue, as well as the residential area nearby. The photograph appears to be looking west.
Notes
Donkersloot recorded the date and time each photograph was taken on the back of the photos.
View is north northeast. Photograph shows the Brandon College Building in the foreground with the Education Building and North Hill in the background. Photo was taken from the roof of McMaster Hall.
View is north northwest from the roof of Flora Cowan Hall (?). Photograph shows: the J.R.C. Evans Lecture Theatre, the A.E. McKenzie Building and the Western Manitoba Centennial Auditorium as well as a number of houses on 20th Street.
Taken from an airplane, photograph is looking northwest from approximatley 15th Street and Louise Avenue. Shown are a number of residential blocks, the Brandon University campus, the railroad tracks and the Assiniboine River to approximatley 34th Street.
View is northwest from approximately the corner of 18th Street and Louise Avenue. Photograph shows the Brandon College campus after the completion of Flora Cowan Hall.
Notes
BUPC 2.1.24 is a smaller version of this photograph.
The photograph was taken for the Centennial of Brandon College/University.
Scope and Content
Aerial photograph taken looking southwest from approximately the northeast corner of Princess Avenue and 17th Street. The entire campus, as well as a number of residential streets are visible.
The photograph may have been taken for Brandon University's centennial.
Scope and Content
Photograph is looking northeast from approximately Victoria Avenue and 21st Street and shows the Brandon University campus, Kinsmen Stadium, the Assiniboine River and a number of residential neighbourhoods.
View is southwest from approximately Princess Avenue and 17th Street. Photograph shows the Brandon University campus in fall, as well as the southwest portion of the city.
View is south southwest from approximatley the east corner of 18th Street and Princess Avenue. Photograph shows the Brandon University campus, Kinsmen Stadium, Earl Oxford school and a number of residential blocks, particularly southwest of 18th Street.
